HWT Professional Practice Policy

The Editor-in-chief of the Herald & Weekly Times, Steve Harris, has recently issued a policy defining ethical standards for the group's editorial staff

The professional activities of all editorial staff shall be guided by the principles of openness, fairness and commitment to accuracy and truth.

This policy of professional practice reflects the following basic principles of journalism:

• the primary purpose of gathering and distributing news and opinion is to serve society by informing citizens and enabling them to make informed judgments on the issues of the time;
   
• the freedom of the press to bring an independent scrutiny to bear on the forces that shape society is a freedom exercised on behalf of the public;
   
• journalists are committed to ensuring that the public's business is conducted in public, and must be vigilant against anyone who would exploit the press for selfish purposes or seek to restrict the paper's role and responsibilities;
   
• good faith with the reader is the foundation of good journalism.
   

The public interest is the only test that may occasionally justify divergence from the standards of conduct set out in this policy. The public interest includes:

• detecting or exposing crime or serious misdemeanor;
   
• detecting or exposing seriously anti-social conduct;
   
• protecting public heath and safety;
   
• preventing the public from being misled by some statement or action of an individual or organisation;
   
• detecting or exposing hypocrisy, falsehoods or double standards of behavior on the part of public figures or public institutions and in public policy.
   

The policy applies to all editorial staff, whether management or staff, union or non-union members, permanent and casual staff and contributors.

1 Accuracy

1.1 Take care not to publish inaccurate, misleading or distorted material and make every endeavor to get all sides of a story and present same fairly.

1.2 Always verify facts and quotations and corroborate any critical information.

1.3 If a significant inaccuracy, misleading statement or distorted report has been published, correct or clarify it promptly.

1.4. Always report fairly and accurately the outcome of an action for defamation or a judgment by the Australian Press Council, or other self-regulatory or regulatory body, to which the paper has been a party, and material critical of the paper.

1.5. Give a fair opportunity for reply to inaccuracies to individuals or organisations when it has been called for reasonably.

1.6. In general, direct quotations should not be altered. There is, however, some justification for the deletion of offensive and gratuitous language or minor amendments to grammar that makes the statement confusing or the speaker appear foolish, so long as the alteration does not fundamentally alter the meaning and context of the quotation. If in doubt that any such alteration goes beyond minor adjustment, seek advice from your editorial supervisor/s.

1.7. Sub-editors should take care not to allow the sub-editing process to adversely affect the accuracy, context and fairness of a story.

2 Comment and fact

2.1 To be impartial does not require our papers to be unquestioning or to refrain from the expression of editorial opinion; however, editorial material should distinguish clearly between comment, verified fact and speculation.

2.2 Editorials, analytical articles and commentaries should be subject to the same standards of factual accuracy as news reports.

3 Misrepresentation, deceptive and illegal practices

3.1 Do not obtain or seek to obtain information or pictures through misrepresentation or subterfuge.

3.2 Do not remove documents or photographs except with the express permission of the owner.

3.3 Do not use a false name, either verbally or in writing, when seeking information for publication or gaining entry to any private or public institution in pursuit of information.

3.4 Do not use long range recording devices or cameras, or surveillance or bugging devices.

3.5 The above clauses may be waived only when the public interest justifies subterfuge. The use of any deceptive practice/s must be approved by the editor or any other relevant editorial executive/s after thorough discussion.

3.6 An editor confronted with a decision to authorise deceptive methods or subterfuge should meet these minimum conditions: the expected news story must be of such vital public interest that its news value clearly outweighs the damage to trust and credibility that might result from the use of deception; the story cannot reasonably be recast to avoid the need to deceive; all other means of getting the story have been exhausted. Those involved in the decision should ask themselves whether the decision to deceive has been discussed as thoroughly and broadly as feasible and whether readers and staff members will tend to agree that the story justified the deception.

3.7 The nature of any deceptive practices and the reasons for their use must be disclosed to readers at the time of publication.

3.8 As a general principle, The Herald and Weekly Times does not condone the breaking of any laws by employees acting on behalf of the company and the company does not accept liability for any such action.

4 Confidentiality

4.1 Unless there is a clear and pressing need to maintain confidence, sources of information should be identified.

4.2 Do not promise confidentiality or imply protection unless you are convinced that the information is in the public interest and the source is neither malicious nor mischievous.

4.3 If you promise confidentiality, you have an obligation to protect your confidential sources of information at all costs.

4.4 Make every effort to verify independently any material gained from confidential sources.

4.5 Tell your editorial supervisor/s whenever you have made a promise of confidentiality.

5 Harassment

5.1 You should not obtain in-formation, documents or pictures through intimidation or harassment

5.2 You should not photograph individuals on private property without their consent, unless the editor is convinced there is justifiable public interest.

5.3 You should not persist in tele-phoning, following or questioning individuals after you have been asked to stop.

5.4 You should not remain on a person's private property after having been asked to leave.

6 Discrimination

6.1 Avoid prejudicial or pejorative reference to a person's race, color, religion, marital status, sex or sexual orientation or to any physical or mental illness or incapacity.

6.2 Avoid publishing details of a person's race, color, religion, marital status, sex, sexual orientation, physical or mental illness or incapacity except when those details are directly relevant to the story.

6.2 You should avoid participation in and membership of clubs and associations which have discriminatory membership policies and should make any such membership known to your editorial supervisor/s.

7 General Privacy

7.1 You should avoid identifying relatives or friends of people convicted or accused of crime unless the reference to them is necessary for the full, fair and accurate reporting of the crime or subsequent legal proceedings, or is of direct relevance to the story.

7.2 Be aware that using identifying details, such as street names and numbers etc., may serve to enable others to intrude on the privacy of individuals, who have become the subject of news coverage, and their families.

8 Grief and trauma

8.1 All people, including public figures, should be treated with sensitivity and courtesy during times of grief and trauma.

8.2 Ordinary citizens caught up in newsworthy events are ignorant of journalistic practice and that ignorance should not be exploited.

8.3 When seeking permission to interview or photograph a victim or bereaved person, make every effort to make the initial approach through an intermediary, such as family member, friend, counsellor etc. Make a direct approach to the subject only if no intermediary is available.

8.4 If permission is refused, do not persist. (You may, however, leave a contact number or card so the person may reconsider the request at a less stressful time.)

8.5 Do not enter non-public areas of any institution charged with caring for, and counselling, victims and their families (such as hospital, welfare institutions, funeral parlours or chapels, churches etc.) without identifying yourself to a responsible official or without the express per-mission of the affected people, their intermediaries or their medical/welfare/legal adviser or guardian.

8.6 A victim or bereaved person has the right to terminate an interview and/or photographic session at any time and should be made aware of this right before the interview/photographic session begins.

8.7 If a subject breaks down during an interview, offer to terminate the interview.

8.8 Conduct all interviews with the utmost sensitivity to both the distress likely to be caused by the interview itself and the possible impact on the interviewee that publication of information given in times of stress may have.

8.9 If you feel at any time that ordinary citizens may not be aware of the import of what they are saying, discuss this with them and give them the opportunity to withdraw any such remarks.

8.10 Draw your editorial supervisor's attention to any material or image that may be particularly sensitive or to any circumstance that may have led you to omit material from your copy.

8.11 Photographs of victims or grieving people should be published only following due consideration of sensitivity and privacy.

8.12 Any restrictions placed on the use of photographs supplied by the immediate family or an intermediary should be honored.

8.13 Distressing or gratuitous reference to the state of a victim's body or to body parts should be avoided.

8.14 Care should be taken when republishing any material on the anniversary of a trauma or crime not to cause undue distress to victims or their families.

9 Reporting destructive and self-destructive behavior

9.1 When reporting individual suicide cases, do not refer to them as such, except when the public figure or public interest tests apply.

9.2 Avoid reporting details of suicide methods.

9.3 Take particular care when reporting youth suicide trends not to imply that suicide is an acceptable means of resolving problems.

9.4 Avoid reports of extortion threats, such as bombs, poisoned food etc. except when justified by public safety or the public interest.

9.5 Avoid reporting descriptive details of drug manufacture, distribution and usage, except when justified by public safety or the public interest.

9.6 Take particular care to avoid implying that illegal drug usage or the misuse of legal drugs is an acceptable means of resolving problems.

9.7 Avoid reporting descriptive details of the manufacture or usage of firearms, crossbows, booby traps or any other life-threatening device.

10 Children

10.1 You should not normally interview or photograph children under the age of 16 on subjects involving the personal welfare of the child in the absence of and without the consent of a parent or other adult responsible for the child.

10.2 Children should not be interviewed about their parents or siblings when the parents or siblings are the subject of any story except in the presence of, and with the consent of, a parent or other adult responsible for the child.

10.3 No inducement should be offered to a child to cooperate in an interview.

10.4 Children should not be approached or photographed while at school without the permission of the principal or principal's delegated representative.

11 Payment for Information

11.1 As a general principle, payment or offers of payment or any other inducement for stories, pictures or information should be avoided unless publication is demonstrably in the public interest and there is no alternative to payment.

11.2 Payment or offers of payment for stories, pictures or information should not be made to witnesses or potential witnesses in current criminal proceedings or to people engaged in crime or to their associates (including family, friends, neighbors and colleagues) except where the material concerned ought to be published in the public interest and where there is no alternative to payment.

11.3 When payment for any story, picture or information has been made, the readers should ideally be informed of the fact of payment, but the disclosure is at the discretion of the Editor.

11.4 Any payment must be authorised by the Editor.

12 Conflict of interest

12.1 Staff have the right to join and participate in any political or community organisation and activity but should be aware that such participation may create a conflict of interest and reflect on the credibility of the paper and the staff member.

12.2 If you sign petitions, participate in demonstrations, or serve in decision-making or fund-raising capacities in organisations that do, or potentially can, generate news, you must inform your supervisor/s.

12.3 You should always inform your supervisor/s in advance of any real or potential conflict of interest that may affect your impartiality or be seen to affect your impartiality when coveting a story directly or indirectly connected to an individual or organisation with which you, your close friends or family have personal dealings.

12.4 You should tell your editorial supervisor/s, in advance, of any paid or unpaid work that you undertake for any individual or organisation that may constitute a real or perceived conflict of interest.

12.5 Editorial supervisors have the right to assign a reporter to cover a story in which he or she has a real or potential conflict of interest, but the story must carry an acknowledgment to that effect.

12.6 You should not contribute to outside publications/companies, either by name or nom de plume, without prior and express approval of the Editor.

12.7 You should not participate in interviews or debates for other media outlets without the prior approval of a supervisor or the Editor.

12.8 Tell you editorial supervisor/s when you are offered, or given, any inducement such as money, products, subsidised or free travel, accommodation, tickets and special discounts.

12.9 If a supervisor believes any gift may put the reporter's or the paper's integrity at risk, the gift should be returned with a polite explanatory note.

12.10 The Editor, section editors or other supervising staff are the only people authorised to accept offers of free or subsidised travel, accommodation, tickets etc. on behalf of the paper. They have the right to assign staff to cover any resulting story as they see fit, even if the original offer was made directly to an individual journalist.

12.11 Acceptance of an offer of trip or accommodation is conditional on the paper being free to assign staff independently, to publish adverse material or not to publish at all; these conditions should be made in writing to the person or individual making the offer.

12.12 Any story generated from free travel or other benefit should carry a tag acknowledgment.

12.13 Supervising staff have a duty to find out whether any contributor, who has been commissioned or who offers material for publication, has a real or potential pecuniary or general conflict of interest, although this responsibility does not absolve the contributor from declaring any such conflict.

12.14 Where there is no other suitably qualified person available to contribute material in which conflict of interest may arise, the material may be commissioned and published but readers should be told of the potential conflict either in the body or at the end of the story.

12.15 Failure to advise a real or potential conflict of interest will result in immediate suspension.

12.16 Contributors who are not full-time journalists employed by The Herald and Weekly Times should make any potential conflicts of interest known to the Editor. Any association or activity which might have, or be deemed to have, a bearing on their views should be identified with the published material.

13 Financial reporting

13.1 You should not use financial information you receive in advance of general publication for your own profit nor should you pass on such information to others in advance of publication.

13.2 You should not write about shares, securities or companies in whose performance you know that you, your close friends or your immediate family has a significant financial interest without disclosing that interest to the Finance Editor or Editor.

13.3 You should not buy or sell, either directly or through nominees or agents, shares or securities about which you have written recently or about which you intend to write in the near future.

14 Advertising

14.1 Any editorial material that is generated as a condition of the placement of an advertisement must be labelled as an advertising feature.

14.2 Wherever possible stories that are critical of, or adversely affect, an advertiser should not be carried on the same page as that advertiser's advertisement.

15 Plagiarism

15.1 Plagiarism or the unsourced reproduction of other people's work, including the work of public relations and publicity officers, is unacceptable.

15.2 All material for publication that is supplied by an external source should be fully acknowledged, either in the body of the story or in a tag statement.

15.3 No story or illustration should carry the by-line of staff journalists or contributors unless it is substantially their own work.

15.4 Reporters and contributors have a responsibility to identify to their supervisor/s any stories which are ostensibly retyping of publicity material.

16 Image manipulation

16.1 It is the prime responsibility of photographers to produce work which is a true and accurate representation of events.

16.2 Reasonable touch-ups to improve picture reproduction quality is acceptable.

16.3 Only with the approval of the editor should elements of a photograph be deleted or altered to avoid causing offence.

16.4 Under no circumstances may the basic elements of a photograph be manipulated to produce better composition, nor shall the appearance of any element be altered or the image unduly cropped so that the representation is distorted.

16.5 Computerised images and photo illustrations that have been altered must carry an appropriate credit line to ensure readers are not misled into believing they are accurate representations.

16.6 All computerised images or photo illustrations sent interstate or overseas must carry an appropriate and clear advisory that the image has been electronically generated or altered.

17 Interviews

17.1 While co-operation in inquiries by police and other authorities is urged, an employee who is asked to give information or an interview to an authority such as police or to give evidence in a matter related to their profession etc. should refer the request to their editor/supervisor.

17.2 Staff cannot have their work published elsewhere without the prior permission of the editor.

18 Other

18.1 No employee or contributor should give any undertaking to anyone, whether a complainant or subject of an article, that commits themselves or the company to anything that is written or published particularly in relation to corrections, apologies etc., without reference to an editor/supervisor.

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